S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6127
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 16, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CLARK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting cyber-bul-
lying
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that:
a. Bullying is a long-standing problem among school-aged children in
New York state and throughout the nation. With increasing accessibility
to electronic means of communication, bullying has transformed from a
predominantly school-based issue to a broader societal problem.
b. Researchers have demonstrated that bullying has long-term conse-
quences. Further, bullying goes beyond the classroom to bullying on the
job, on athletic teams, on college campuses and the internet.
c. Experts researching bullying have suggested that one tool for
schools to use in combatting bullying is to maintain and enforce
consistent policies against bullying and harassment, including cyber-
bullying. Such enforcement is not always possible if bullying occurs
away from school or by a non-student.
d. Perpetrators of cyber-bullying are often more extreme in the
threats and taunts they inflict on their victims, as they do not actual-
ly see their victim's emotional reaction to the abuse and believe that
they are anonymous. Victims of cyber-bullying suffer very real and seri-
ous harm as a result of these incidents, often showing signs of
depression, anxiety, social isolation, nervousness when interacting with
technology, low self-esteem and declining school performance. In some
cases, victims attempt or commit suicide in part because of cyber-bully-
ing they've endured.
e. Enactment of this act is necessary and appropriate to further
ensure that New York state's public schools are safe and free from
cyber-bullying.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02133-01-5
A. 6127 2
S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 2803 to read
as follows:
S 2803. CYBER-BULLYING. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING
TERMS SHALL MEAN AS FOLLOWS:
A. CYBER-BULLYING SHALL MEAN ENGAGING IN A REPEATED COURSE OF COMMUNI-
CATION, OR REPEATEDLY CAUSING A COMMUNICATION TO BE SENT, BY MECHANICAL
OR ELECTRONIC MEANS, POSTING STATEMENTS ON THE INTERNET OR THROUGH A
COMPUTER NETWORK WITH NO LEGITIMATE COMMUNICATION PURPOSE WHICH CAUSES
ALARM OR SERIOUS ANNOYANCE, OR IS LIKELY TO CAUSE ALARM OR SERIOUS
ANNOYANCE.
B. MINOR SHALL MEAN ANY NATURAL PERSON OR INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF
EIGHTEEN.
C. PERSON SHALL MEAN ANY NATURAL PERSON OR INDIVIDUAL.
2. NO PERSON SHALL ENGAGE IN CYBER-BULLYING AGAINST ANY MINOR.
3. ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN UNCLASSIFIED MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF
UP TO ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND/OR UP TO ONE YEAR IMPRISONMENT.
4. THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY TO ALL ACTIONS OCCURRING ON OR AFTER THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
5. IF ANY CLAUSE, SENTENCE, PARAGRAPH OR PART OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE
ADJUDGED BY ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID, SUCH
JUDGMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT, IMPAIR OR INVALIDATE THE REMAINDER THEREOF,
BUT SHALL BE CONFINED IN ITS OPERATION TO THE CLAUSE, SENTENCE, PARA-
GRAPH OR PART THEREOF DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE CONTROVERSY IN WHICH SUCH
JUDGMENT SHALL HAVE BEEN RENDERED.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.